Over 300,000 Alzheimer’s patients in the U.S. are given antipsychotics, which not only further erases their identity and independence but can increase the risk of death. How might we best employ methods of alternative therapy for Alzheimer’s patients to reduce the reliance on antipsychotics and improve overall well-being? Fiddlebright is a soft, weighted pillow that plays music based on memory stages and emits soothing light therapy to late stage Alzheimer’s patients. An accompanying app creates playlists for caregivers, allows them to share personal playlists with the Fiddlebright community, or set the pillow to play relaxing music for patients when it is time to rest.

Upload Screen and Interactive PlushThe Fiddlebright pillow for Alzheimer's patients is soft and structured so that it can be held in a variety of ways, accomodating for such limitations as stiff hands. The pillow is weighted and sized to fit comfortably on a lap, but can also be hugged or held.

Final UIBased on our research, we decided that caregivers would be the appropriate person to control the Fiddlebright pillow. However, we also knew that caregivers are usually extremely time-stressed. How would they find time to create playlists for their loved ones with Alzheimer's? Our answer to this was to let Fiddlebright generate the playlists based on age, location, and music preference.

The 'engage' setting allows caregivers to choose between the three Fiddlebright age-location specific playlists, a playlist of favorites, or self-created playlists. The 'connect' setting allows caregivers to share self-generated playlists, as well as to search for playlists made by others. The 'relax' setting addresses the issue of sundowning, or afternoon anxiety and restlessness in Alzheimer's patients.